Gloucester County Announces Grants to Municipalities

(Woodbury, NJ) - The Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholders announced today that 10 municipalities will share $565,936 in grant funding for the 2010-11 program year under the US Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

"The funding that is provided under this grant allows our towns to make necessary improvements and address community needs without adding a strain to their budget," said Gloucester County Freeholder Director Sweeney.

Sweeney said, "Many towns have to put projects on hold in these economic times, but through the CDBG program improvements that address accessibility and safety can be completed."

Freeholder Joseph A. Brigandi Jr., Liaison to the County's Department of Economic Development, explained that the projects that the CDBG grant funds will improve public safety for all citizens and provides greater access for those with disabilities.

"The 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act brings to light many accessibility challenges that are still out there in our world," Brigandi said. "Curb cuts, ramps and elevators are necessities and CDBG funds allow towns to improve their public safety and access at a time that without this funding, these projects would most likely not get completed," Brigandi stated.

The awards are as follows:

$13,400 to the Borough of Clayton to address public safety issues and deteriorating road conditions at N. New Street and S. Dennis Drive;

$132,505 to the Township of Deptford for (2) projects to address public safety issues and deteriorating road conditions at a section of Arline Avenue and a section of Manhassett Avenue

$47,484 to the Borough of Glassboro for(2) projects to address accessibility issues with the installation of ADA compliant handicap ramps and road improvements at several intersections including Bristol Drive, Sylvan Terrace, Alfred Avenue and Lewis Avenue and road improvements to E. New Street from Main Street to Delsea Drive

$45,000 to the Township of Greenwich to address handicap accessibility issues with the installation of a chairlift to Courtroom and basement meeting room

$75,000 to the Township of Logan for Phase II of the rehabilitation of the Bridgeport School as a Senior Center.

$72,000 to the Township of Mantua for (2) projects which will address handicap accessibility issues through the installation of an elevator at the Senior Center as well as the municipal building.

$52,547 to the Borough of Swedesboro to address handicap accessibility and public safety issues with the installation of ADA compliant sidewalk and street improvements to Second Street.

$68,000 to the Township of West Deptford to address handicap accessibility and public safety issues with the installation of ADA compliant sidewalk and street improvements from Woodbury Terrace to Crown Point Road.

$30,000 to the Borough of Woodbury Heights to address handicap accessibility issues with the installation ADA compliant bleacher pads and sidewalk accessibility to the athletic fields at Helen Avenue.

$30,000 to the Township of Woolwich for (2) projects to address handicap accessibility issues with the installation ADA compliant bleacher pads and sidewalk accessibility to the athletic fields at High Hill Park

The County administers the funds that are received yearly from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Annually, municipalities are asked to submit applications that meet at least one of three national objectives established by HUD:

Benefit low- and moderate-income persons;

Aid in the prevention or elimination of slums and blighting conditions;

Meet other urgent community development needs where existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to public health and welfare and where other financial resources are not readily available to meet such needs.

The awards were granted based on a competitive application process among 23 municipalities in the County. Washington Township is its own entitlement and receives an independent allocation of CDBG funds that is administered by Gloucester County.